IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

I have been thinking about writing this for awhile, ever since all the Christmas(It's a Wonderful Life) emails started going around.

Can't promise this will be funny but here goes.

Joseph call for Clarence we got another man that needs some help down on earth.

Like most of you I have had some very depressing times suicide and wishing I have never been born has crossed my mind on several occasions. Mostly way back before I met Cindy. Life was pretty depressing for me, I wondered if I would get married or have any kids. But as you know that all worked out great. I couldn't be happier as a husband and a father to 3 great boys.

But would would have happened if I wasn't there by any means. Say an accidental drowning. Most of you probably don't know that when I was about 8 or 9 years old we were swimming at Wyconda State Park. I didn't know how to swim that well and I was out in the water up to my neck. I kept bouncing up and down off the bottom and slowly getting out in deeper and deeper water when my foot slipped off the ledge to the deep water and down I went. I still remember that horrible feeling, trying to get air and thrashing like an idiot. I would have drowned that day but someone grabbed me and pulled he in. This is probably why I don't like swimming in lakes, just swimming pools. Also probably why I don't want to fly. :)

So old George Bailey what would have happened if Joe would have died that day.

Well several years after that we are swimming in a pool owned by a friend of Jan's, I don't remember all the details but let's just say Jeff dove in the deep end and went down and I went in and got him. 1 life saved.

Then there was another time we were all swimming at Chaddocks, boy we like to swim don't we? We were finishing up and we were all walking in to the locker room. I was the last one, so I thought. Just as I was walking in to the locker room I heard a splash. I looked down in the pool and there was Craig, he was only about 3 so I guess he didn't know he couldn't walk on water. So I went in after him. 2 lives saved.

Fast forward to about 17 years ago. Cindy and I were having a late night snack. Cindy got something stuck in her throat and couldn't breath at all, no air was coming out. She started to panic, I started to panic. Then I got behind her, no wrong story. I smacked her on the back 2 or 3 times. It came out the first smack but I was getting in to it. 3 lives saved.

Now what about all the experiences that weren't near death. Like the time I saved John when we fell on all that glass. Actually I didn't help him but I did get the soda and milk home. And what about Jay, how many times did I help you find that stocking hat of yours. It was easy to find....I hid it.

So if I would have died that day...........

I know you all have similar experiences like me. All those what if I wasn't there moments. When I think about this it really makes me wonder. What if Jill survived. What would she have done or not done. Would kind of influence did we miss out on. Would she have been the favorite sister or the family bitch. Would she have hogged the glory and save Jeff that day or was it her saving me at Wyconda. I am sorry we will never know how she would have influenced this family. Maybe she would have won the real lottery.

So with Thanksgiving closing in and Christmas next month I pause to remember and be thankful for all I have. With tears running down my cheeks. I want to say thank you Lord for my life, my GINORMOUS family and all my friends.

I hope everyone realizes all they have to be thankful for, I do.

Cindy, Adam, Cody and Eric.

And from Jer all the way down to Ty and Aiden and everyone in between, I love you all.

HAPPY 100TH BLOG POSTING.